The AU at a Crossroads: Does Its Leadership Have the Courage to Lead?

By Zamikhaya Maseti

THE African Union (AU) Summit is convening its 38th Ordinary Session on 15–16 February 2025 at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Now, before I dive in, let me confess something: when IOL reached out and asked me to write an article on the AU Summit, I hesitated.

Why? Because I have seen this story before.

Year after year, African leaders gather in Addis Ababa, deliver grand speeches, pose for photographs, and make ambitious declarations about Africa’s future. Yet, when the dust settles, the continent remains trapped in the same cycles of war, economic stagnation, and weak governance.

Consider what’s happening right now.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 14 South African soldiers recently perished in combat in Goma, while on a peacekeeping mission to protect civilians. In Mozambique, civil strife has raged on for nearly three months, leaving devastation in its wake. And in Sudan, millions have been displaced, with countless lives lost.

Yet, despite these mounting crises, the AU remains eerily silent.

The AU has not condemned the killings of South African soldiers. It has not addressed Rwanda’s increasing hostility toward South Africa following these deaths. It has not acted decisively on the worsening humanitarian crises across the continent.

And the question arises:

Will the AU summon the courage to hold Rwanda accountable?

This weekend’s summit must answer that question.

Because if the AU cannot confront these burning issues, then it is riding a dead horse. And we all know what you do with a dead horse—you dismount.

But that should not be an option.

The AU must find the political courage and leadership necessary to tackle Africa’s challenges head-on.

The AU’s Greatest Weakness: No Standing Army, No Power

Perhaps the most glaring failure of the AU is its lack of a dedicated peacekeeping force.

For an organization that prides itself on African unity and self-reliance, its approach to security tells a different story.

Every time a conflict erupts in Africa, what does the AU do?

• Step 1: Issue a carefully worded press statement, expressing “deep concern.”
• Step 2: Wait for the United Nations (UN) to intervene.
• Step 3: Watch as foreign powers dictate Africa’s security agenda.

The tragedy in Goma—where 14 South African soldiers fell in combat—is a harsh reminder of this failure. These men died under a UN peacekeeping mandate, not an AU-led operation.

Where was the AU’s military response?

Why does Africa not have its own rapid-response force—one that can deploy immediately when crises erupt?

The answer is simple. The AU has no teeth including:

• No condemnation of the killing of South African soldiers.
• No public reprimand of Rwanda.
• No plan to build an independent AU peacekeeping force.

This is not a funding issue—the AU has access to billions in resources from member states, the African Development Bank, and international partners.

What is missing is political will, unity, and leadership.

The AU was supposed to be Africa’s collective problem-solving mechanism. Instead, it has become a stage for well-crafted speeches, but little action.

The AU’s Early Days: A Vision Betrayed

I cannot help but reflect on the early days of the AU.

I had the privilege of working with many colleagues in a movement that believed in African self-determination.

At the centre of it all was Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, then Deputy President of South Africa, who played a pivotal role in the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the AU.

Mbeki had a clear and bold vision: an Africa capable of solving its problems, managing its own economic affairs, and ensuring peace and security without foreign interference.

His work was tireless. He crisscrossed the continent, advocating for an African development agenda built on self-reliance and economic transformation.

Mbeki was supported by some of the sharpest minds of the time:

• Mojanku Gumbi, his brilliant legal adviser.
• Moss Ngoasheng, a reputable economist.
• Vusi Mavimbela, an ideologue, security and intelligence expert.
• The late Essop Pahad, a master political strategist.
• Frank Chikane, a powerhouse of policy expertise and Director-General.

At the heart of Mbeki’s vision was the Millennium Partnership for the African Recovery Programme (MAP)—a blueprint for Africa’s economic renewal.

Meanwhile, in Senegal, President Abdoulaye Wade was spearheading OMEGA, a development framework based on African self-sufficiency.

Eventually, the two leaders merged their visions, giving birth to NEPAD—the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

It was supposed to be Africa’s economic renaissance.

From NEPAD to Agenda 2063. Mbeki’s vision was clear and ambitious.

But history had other plans.

Once Mbeki was removed from power, NEPAD was disarticulated—buried alive, abandoned, and forgotten.

Today, the AU’s Agenda 2063 claims to carry NEPAD’s ideals forward, but the reality is far from its promises.

• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been established.
• Infrastructure investments have increased.
• Education and healthcare have seen improvements.

Yet, despite these efforts, Africa remains:

• Mired in conflict, economic disparity, and weak governance.
• Conflicts continue to escalate.
• Economic growth remains uneven.
• Climate change threatens Africa’s future.
• Corruption and mismanagement persist.

And the biggest failure? The AU’s inability to hold leaders accountable.

The APRM: A Toothless Watchdog

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was introduced to promote governance and accountability.

But in practice, it has become a voluntary, ineffective exercise.

Of 55 African countries, only 24 have subjected themselves to APRM review.

Why?

• Sovereignty concerns—Leaders don’t want external scrutiny.
• Fear of exposure—Some governments don’t want their failures exposed.
• Lack of enforcement—The APRM has no real consequences for non-compliance.

For the APRM to be meaningful, it must be compulsory:

• AU funding should be tied to APRM compliance.
• Leaders who fail the review should face sanctions.
• Regional economic bodies must enforce governance standards.

Without this, the AU will remain a club of elites protecting their interests.

A Defining Moment for the AU

This weekend’s AU Summit is not just another diplomatic gathering. It is a test of credibility.

The AU must:

• Address the conflicts in the DRC, Mozambique, and Sudan.
• Condemn the killing of South African soldiers.
• Hold Rwanda accountable where necessary.
• Establish an independent AU peacekeeping force.
• Make APRM participation mandatory.

Because if the AU fails, then it has failed Africa. The only question is: Does the AU have the courage to lead?

Time will tell.

* Zamikhaya Maseti is a Political Economy Analyst and holds a Magister Philosophiae (M.Phil.) in South African Politics and Political Economy from the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) now Nelson Mandela University.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.